Non-freezing hydrant.



PATENTED AUG. 1. 1905.

, O. ELLIS.

NON-FREEZING HYDRANT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.21.1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OARLETON ELLIS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- FIFTHS TO SAWYER, FOSTER AND HARDY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHU- SETTS. A COPARTNERSHIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1905.

A li ti fil d March 21, 1904:. Serial No. 199,106-

.conflagration in its incipient stage is a common occurrence. The thawing of a frozen hydrant is, furthermore, a tedious operation. Various devices, such as frost-cases and the like, intended to overcome the difiiculty have been found inefficient;

It is the object of this invention to provide a non-freezing hydrant by the suitable introduction into the barrel of the hydrant of S01- uble chemicals which possess theproperty of lowering the freezing-point of water. Among the chemicals adapted for this purpose are common salt and calcium. chlorid. The latter is to be preferred because of its ready solubility in water, the ease with which it may be cast into any desired form, the pronounced lowerin of the freezing-point which it induces, and t e absence of any corrosive action upon iron or bronzemetals entering largely into the construction of hydrants.

The chemical may be introduced into the hydrant in any suitable manner. In some forms of apparatus the chemical may sim ly be inserted through the hydrant-nozzle and a lowed to fall to the bottom of the barrel until the cavity immediately above the drip-valve 'is filled. With most hydrants this method is, however, impracticable owing to the more or less complex nature of the water-valves.

For the use of chemicals in the most satisfactory manner my invention in its preferred embodiment consists of a hydrant containing a hollow shaft extending from the upper to the lower part of the hydrant-barrel, said shaft being perforated or open at its lower end and containing the char e of chemicals. For the sake of compactness t is hollow shaft may be situated inside the hydrant-barrel and may conveniently be utilized as a valveactuating device or stem. At the top the shaft is closed by a removable cap or plu The chemical filling the interior of the shaf is by means of the openings at the bottom in contact with the drip-water accumulating in the lower part of the hydrant, and thereby dissolving renders the water incapable of freezing.

To make my description clearer, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred form of my invention.

The drawing shows a section of the hydrant, in which A is a barrel or stand-pipe B, a water gate or valve; O, a hollow stem used as the receptacle for chemicals and as a valveactuating device and having perforations at E; D, a removable plug.

F represents sticks of calcium chlorid.

G is a nozzle, and H is a drip-valve.

The calcium chlorid or other chemical is charged into C at D until the stem is nearly filled. The plug D is then replaced. As the chemical at E slowly dissolves fresh portions drop down to replace that which has gone into solution. charge is exhausted. The hydrant should be tested at intervals by inserting a long rod into the stem at D. In this Way the quantity of chemical still undissolved is ascertained.

By my invention a hydrant which will not freeze in the coldest climates is made possible, and hence its use will avoid a large loss of property caused each winter by frozen hydrants.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A hydrant, having, in combination, a barrel through which the water passes, a valve controlling the supply of water to the barrel, a hollow valve-actuating stem located Within the barrel and adapted to receive a soluble freezing-point-lo'wering chemical and provided with apertures near the base of the barrel, and a drip-valve, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CARLETON' ELLIS.

Witnesses:

HENRY C. SAWYER, SOPHIA WILSON.

This continues until the 

